Canada Wood Today | The Canada Wood Group

PFC Flat Roof Structure Passes Fire Test

As one of Canada Wood FY2014-2015 market access projects, we are working on “Fireproof Testing of PFC Roof & Exterior Emergency Hallway Floor Assemblies for Large Scale Structures”. We are conducting full sized fire tests for the roof and floor assemblies as a part of this project. On April 10th and 11th, two fire tests were conducted for roof assemblies at a horizontal furnace in one of the MLIT*1-designated performance evaluation bodies. The specification of the assembly for the ceiling side (burnt side) was 2×10 SPF floor joist framing cladded with 2 layers of gypsum boards (15mm thick and 12.5 mm thick) and 180mm-thick mineral wool insulation with a density of 40kg/m3 was installed in the framed cavities. As this test was to aim the ministerial approval of 30-minute fire resistive roof structure, duration of the burning was 30 minutes, followed by the observation period of three times the burning time. After the burning, the test assembly was dismounted from the furnace, then the gypsum boards and the insulation were removed in order to observe if any charring occurred at the wooden framing members. The specimen passed the test as they found no charring on the wooden surface. We are scheduled to have the test report prepared for the technical evaluation committee meeting to be held in June. We anticipate that MLIT will issue the fire resistive approval this summer. The success of this test would benefit the architects and builders as this assembly will enable the fire resistive flat roof structures typically installed in large scale wooden buildings such as institutional or elderly care projects. The existing MLIT fire resistive roof assembly is intended for residential pitched roofs however, large scale structures require flat roofs and additional reinforcement to permit installation of heavy apparatuses such as exterior unit of heat pump air conditioners. Developing an MLIT approval for a flat roof assembly will allow for cost reductions and enhances competitive design options uniquely required to larger scale facilities. This fiscal year’s project also aims 1-hour MLIT exterior corridor emergency escape floor assembly approval. The fire test for the floor assembly is to scheduled to follow.